Low-water indicator for boilers



(No Model.)

. W. H.`RODGERS. LOW WATER INDIGATGR POR BOILBRS. No. 492,236. Patented Feb. 2,1, 1893*.

Ww M STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM HENRY RODGERS, OF BAY SIDE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO A. O. LARKINS, OF PORTSMOUTH, NEV HAMPSHIRE.

LOW-WATER INDICATOR FOR BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,236, dated February 21, 1893. l

Application filed .T une 24, 1892. Serial No. 437,896. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:y cated, of much smaller diameter than the Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY RODG.- first named tube, the diameter of the two tubes ERS, of Bay Side, in the county of Queens and being such that a chamber 13, is formed be- State of New York, have invented a new tween them. The inner tube extends upward 55 and useful Improvement in Louf-Vater Indisome distance above the outer one, and the caters for Boilers, of which the following is a lower end of the inner tube is closed by a full, clear, and exact description. plug 14. The upper end of the inner tube My invention relates to an indicator for low has attached thereto in any approved manner water in boilers, and has particularly for its a bushing 15, and the bushing and the outer 6o ro object to provide a device ofthe thermostatic tube are connected by a T 16, or the equivaorder which will indicate upon a dial conlent thereof, the bushing being preferably nected with it the height of the water Within screwed upon the inner tube and the T the boiler, and to provide an improvement screwed upon the bushing and outer tube, and upon the construction of the low water indithe T 16, is ordinarily provided with a tap in 65 r 5 cator for which an application for Letters one side, in which a valved drip pipe 17, is Patent was filed by myself, May 21, 1892, introduced, and the said drip pipe may lead Serial N o. 433,848, the improvement in the to the ash pan of the boiler, or to any other construction being especially to reduce the desired point. cost of manufacture, and to simplify the de- The indicator section of the device is in the 7o zo vice in various particulars. nature of a gage, and comprises a casing 18,

A further object of the invention is to proprovided with a shank 19, the said shank bevide a low water indicator which will be ing screwed into the upper end of the bushcapable of electrically producing an alarm. ing 15, and is thereby brought into communi- The invention consists in the novel concation with the inner tube 12, as the shank 19 75 25 struction and combination of Athe several is tubular, an aperture extending through it parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth from top to bottom, that is, from the outer to and pointed out in the claims. l the inner side of the casing; and at the upper Reference is to be had to the accompanying end of the aperture in the shank 19, the lower drawings forminga part ot' this specification, end of a segmental ilattened tube 2O is lo- 8o 3o in which similar figures and letters of refercated, the tube surrounding the aperture and ence indicate corresponding parts in all the being thereby brought into direct communi- VGWS- cation with the inner tube of the body.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, The segmental tube will straighten out illustrating it as applied to a boiler; Fig. 2 is when the pressure increases in the inner tube 85 3 5 a central vertical section through the device; 12. The upper end of the tube is closed, and

v and Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section through both the segmental bent tube 2O and the inthe gage, illustrating the binding post located ner tube 12 of the body are filled with an eX- in a diierent position from that shown in pansible liquid, such as alcohol, oil, the.

Fig. 2. A pinion 2l, is pivoted within the casing, go 4o The device is to be attached to the lower and is encircled by the flattened and bent gage cock 10, or the intermediate, or the uptube. The outer end of this pinion is shaped per gage cock according to the predeteras a post, and is adapted to receive a hand mined water level to be established in the 22, as shown in Fig. 1; and the pinion passes boiler. through a dial 23, which is preferably divided 9 5 45 The device consists of abody portionA and into three sections, one section being desigan indicator section B. The body portion A, nated as normal, another as low pressconsists primarily ot' an outer tube 11, which ure, and a third as no pressure, the hand is in direct communication with the projected pointing ordinarily to the normal section.

tube sustaining the lower gage cock, this con- The pinion 21 is engaged by a rack 25, the Ico 5o nection being indicated in the drawings. rack being pivoted upon a stud 26, secured Within the tube 11 a second tube 12, is lo-a in the casing, as shown in Fig. 2. The shank of the rack, by means of which it is pivoted, has connected therewith a link 27, which link is slotted to admit of the pivot of the rack passing through it, and to the outer end of the link a connecting rod 2S, is pivotally secured at one end, the opposite end of the connecting rod being attached to the upper end of the flattened tube.

In order that an electrical connection may be effected when the bent or fiattened tube commences to straighten outwardly, a binding post 29, is attached to the casing, having a metallic connection with it, and a second binding post 30, is insulated from the casing, but is provided with an interior Contact 3l, adapted for engagement with the bent tube. Thus two binding posts are in wire circuit with the battery 32, the circuit being designated by the letter D, and within the circuit a bell 33 of any approved construction is illustrated as being placed.

In Fig. l, I have illustrated a binding post as placed upon the periphery of the casing of the indicator sect-ion; but in Fig. 3, it will be observed that the binding posts are located upon the back of the casing; therefore it is evident that the location of the binding posts may be changed at will.

In operation, while the boiler is full of water, or while the water is up to the proper level in the boiler, it will maintain a like level in the outei tube ll of the body, thereby surrounding the inner tube l2 and keeping the latter tube cool, as heat is lost by radiation. At this time the coolness of the liquid will have caused the flattened and bent tube 20, to contract inwardly and carry it away from the binding post with which it is adapted for contact; but in the event the water in the boiler should fall below a predetermined level, the steam will replace the water in the tube l1 and thereby heat the liquid in the inner tube I2. The liquid will at that time expand and expand outwardly the flattened tube 20, carrying said tube to an engagement with one of the binding posts, the binding post 30, for instance, which leads into the casing, and according to the degree of expansion of the liquid in the tube, will the said tube act upon the post carrying the hand 22, and carry said hand around to indicate a level of water slightly below normal, or greatly below the same, or low water,or no pressure. In the latterevent, either no steam is contained in the boiler, or the apparatus is out of order. The moment that an electrical contact is made between the bent tube and the binding post 30, an alarm is sounded through the medium of the electrical circuit D and the bell located within the circuit- A small pin can be placed so as to denote no pressure, or out of order, or a pencil may be employed to mark a sheet waarin or dial, both being operated by the flattened tube. The attened tube is made of drawn brass or steel, all in one piece, and seamless.

I-Iavingth us described my in vention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a bent and fiattened tube, of a tube connected and having communication therewith, an expansible liquid contained in the bent tube and in its connected tube, an outer or casing tube surrounding the liquid-holding tube, and having a connection affording free communication with the water space of the boiler and adapted to admit steam when the water falls to or below the level of said connection, an alarm device, and an electrical connection between the alarm device and the flattened tube, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an indicator for boilers, the combination, with a body section comprising a tube adapted to contain an expansible liquid, a casing tube adapted to surround the liquidcontainingtube,and forminganannular-chamber between the two tubes, said chamber having aconnection affording free communication with the waterspace of the boiler and adapted to admit steam when the water falls to or below the level of said connection; and a iiattened and bent tube in direct communication with the interior ot the liquid-holding tube, of a casing surrounding the bent tube, a dial carried by the casing, a pointer adapted to travel over the dial and connected with the bent tube, an alarm device, and an electrical connection between the alarm device and the casing, the circuit being opened or closed by the bent tube engaging with or disengaging from an insulated contact point on the casing, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an alarm device for boilers, the combination, with the body portion comprising a tube adapted to contain an expansible liquid, a body tube of larger diameter surrounding the liquid-containing tube, and having a connection affording free communication with the water space of the boiler and adapted to admit steam when the water level falls to or below the level et said connection anda bent tube in direct communication with the liquid containing tube, of a casing surrounding the bent tube and provided with a dial, a rotating pinion and post located within the casing, a pointer carried by the post over the dial, a rack operating the pinion, and a lever connection between the rack and one end of the bent tube, as and for the purpose set forth.

vWILLIAM HENRY ROD GERS.

Witnesses:

J oHN F. ROGERS, J oHN W. CARsoN.

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